Foot-guard.



, Patented Jan. 28, I902. E. TRUXALL.

FOUT GUARD (Application filed June 10, 1901.)

(No Model.)

ble, the adaptability and advantages of this UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM TRUXALL, OF-PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOOT-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,169, dated January 28, 1902.

Application filed June 10,1901. Serial No. 63,893. (No model.)

in Foot-Guards, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. i

' This invention relatesin general to certain new and useful improvements in foot-guards, and relates more particularly to guards for railway construction, and is particularly adapted to be employed at switches, frogs, andpoints of intersection of the rails.

It is a well-known fact that heretofore many accidents have been caused on railways at switches and at the intersection of the rails, these parts being formed in a manner that will allow the foot to easily Wedge itself between the rails and at the approach of a train a serious accident is unavoidable; i

It is the object of the present invention to efiectnally overcome and successfully avoid accidents of this character.

The herein described invention further aims to construct a guard of the above described character that will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; furthermore, one thatwill be highly efficient in its use. p, i ,p

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a guard that will adjust itself to-the desired position and one that will be reversi feature being hereinafter fully explained.

The invention still further contemplates to construct a foot-guard that will assure a perfect fit betweenlther'ails and that will retain its proper position at all times; furthermore, providing novel means that will allow the proper adjustment of the device between the rails irrespective of the fish-plates andthe nuts .and bolts extending through the same.

With the above and other objects the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more particularly described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is bad to the accompanying drawings,

forming a partof this specification,and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rail-sections, showing my improved device secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rail and guard-rail provided with my improvement. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of myimproved foot-guard. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing in dotted lines the position of the spring arranged within the foot-guard. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved foot-guard as constructed when applied to the guard-rail. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a pair of rails with my improved foot guard interposed therebe tween. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View ofthe foot-guard.

In the drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates the rails, 2 the frogs, and 3 the switch.

The reference numeral 4 indicates the guard-rail.

Referring to the foot-guard, the referencenumeral 5 indicates the wedge-shaped casing formed in two sections 6 and '7, the section 6 overlapping the upper and lower faces of the section 7 so that the latter section lies partially within the section 6. These sections 6 and 7 carry outwardly-extending flanges 8 and 9, formed integral therewith, thus forming a contracted portion 10 between the flanges 8 and 9. Thesections 7 and 8 arosecured together by means of flat retractile springs 11 and 12, these springs being secured to the inner faceof the contracted portion 10 by suitable fastening. means, such as rivets or bolts. The spring 11 is secured in-the rear end of the wedge-shaped sections 6 and 7, and the spring 12 is secured in the forward end of these sections.

The reference-numeral 14. represents theguard-rail extension of one of the sections 6 or 7, which construction is adapted to be parings.

sections 6 and 7, the spring 11 serving to close the end of the casing, while both springs will form a brace between the upper and lower sections of the casing against any downward pressure, that may be brought to bear upon the upper face of the guard.

The guard is preferably constructed of sheet-steel, but may be manufactured of any suitable material. V d

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The guard is placed at the intersection of the rails or at a switch or guard-rail in the position as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 of the drawings.v The section 7 may be depressed into the section 6 until the proper po sition or adjustment has been accomplished. The lateral pressure of the springs 11 and 12 willassure a tight and perfect fit adjacentto the rails and will engage and firmly lodge themselves to the inner web and under side of the tread of the rail, as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. .By means of the contracted portion 10, formed between the fiangesS and 9of the sections 6 and 7, the device may be easily attached to the rails and will be} allowed to clear the fish-plates and bolts and nuts securing the fish-plates or any other obstructions that might be adjacent to the inner web of the rail. The overlap and underlap of the partially-closed section allows a free and easy movement of the inner section and, furthermore, allows an easy movement ofthe spring within the casing.

It will be seen that the device as constructed the same may be reversed or applied from- .either side, if desired.

The many advantages obtained by the use of my improved device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, taken incon-nection with the accompanying draw- Itwill be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what spring arranged in one end of said casing connecting said sections together and closing the end thereof, and a spring arranged in said sections connecting the other end of said sections together,- substantially as described.

4. In a foot-guard, the combination of two movable sections forming a wedge-shaped casing, outwardly-extending flanges formed integral with said sections, and a spring securing said sections together and closing the end thereof, substantially as described.

- 5. In a foot-guard, the combination of two movable sections forming a wedge-shaped casing, one of said sections overlapping and underlapping the other of said sections, and a spring arranged in said casing approximately the same width as the interior of the casing, substantially as described.

6. In a foot-guard, the combination of two movable sections forming a wedge-shaped casing, one of said sections overlapping and underlapping the other of said sections, and

springs arranged in said casing approximately the same width as the interior of the, casing, substantially as described.

, 7. A foot-guard comprisinga wedge-shaped casing formed in two equal sections'the one of;which overlaps and underlaps the other, and fiat bow-springs arranged within the easing, one of said springs closing the. end of the casing, substantially as described.

8;. Af Ot-guard comprising a substantially wedge-shaped casing, formed in two equal sections the one of which overlaps and underlaps theother, combined with a flat bow-spring arranged within the casing at the larger end thereof, and connectedto both sections,'said spring closing the casing at the larger end,- substantially as described. 1

9. A foot-guard comprising-a substantially wedge-shaped casing formed in two equal sections, one of which slideswithin the other,-

combined with a flat bow-spring arranged within the casin g and connecting the. sections together, said spring acting tospread the sections and to form a brace therefor, substan tially as described.

10. In a foot-guard, a casing formed of two similarly-shaped sections, combined with a spring arranged within the, casing and connected to each section, said spring closing the casing at one end and serving as a brace to the sections, substantially as described.

11. A foot-guard comprising a casing formed in two sections, each sectionhaving longitudinally extendin g shoulders, and a spring connecting the sections and acting as, a' brace therefor. I Y

12. Afoot-guard comprising-acasing formed intwo sections, each section having longitudinallyextending shoulders, a contracted web portion on each. section, and a spring connected at its ends to the contractedweb portionsof the casing, said springengaging the upper and lower walls of the casing, as.

with springs connecting the sections together, the springs acting to normally spread the sections and to brace the same, substantially as described.

15. In a foot-guard, a casing capable of enlargement 0r contraction, and means within the casing for normally extending the same, the said means closing the casing at one end and acting as a brace to the casing, substantially as described. m

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EPHRAIM TRUXALL. Witnesses:

J OHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

